In October 2014 18 year-old Vonderrit Myers, Jr. was shot dead by a police officer in St. Louis City near the Botanical Garden. Myers, Jr. reportedly shot at the officer three times during a chase before he was gunned down.
A 9mm Ruger was recovered from the scene. The gun was stolen.
Vonderitt Myers, Jr. shows off his gun with his friends. (PBS)
His stolen gun jammed when he was shot dead.
In response to his death far left protesters smashed home windows, smashed police car windows, torched a stolen US flag, attacked reporters, and smashed up a South Grand business.
Three months before the shooting St. Louis Police chased Vonderitt Myers, Jr. and four others by helicopter. Vonderitt ran from police and was seen pulling a gun from his front. He threw it into a sewage drain.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported:
The five in the Buick all scattered on foot, according to the police report. Police say Myers was seen pulling a handgun from his front and throwing it in a sewage drain. Police caught him nearby and recovered the gun, a loaded .380-caliber pistol. He told the officers he was running because he had three city bench warrants, police would learn.
Police said Ramos also had three bench warrants from the city.
The five were booked on an array of resisting and gun charges.
At least two of the three who were facing felonies — Myers and Ramos — were released on pretrial probation with electronic monitoring after spending several days in jail.
It was those two, plus Ming, who went to Shaw Market around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
GotNews posted several more photos of Vonderrit flashing gang signs.
Myers went by the street name “droop.”
Today St. Louis Circuit Attorney announced no charges would be filed against the city officer who shot and killed Vonderrit Myers Jr.
St. Louis Today reported:
St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce has announced that no charges will be filed against the city police officer who shot and killed VonDerrit D. Myers Jr.
Joyce issued a press release and a report detailing a separate investigation that her office conducted. A U.S. Attorney helped with her investigation.
Joyce did not name the officer in a 51-page report because he was not charged with a crime, but Chief Sam Dotson released a separate statement including the officer’s name.
The conclusion of Joyce’s report on the Oct. 8 shooting reads, in part, “The fact that Officer X shot Myers and that Myers died as a result of these injuries is not in dispute. It is a tragedy that a life was lost in this incident. As is their role, prosecutors must only determine if a violation of criminal law occurred. Given all the available facts, witness statements, physical and forensic evidence, and for the reasons outlined in the discussion above, prosecutors have determined a criminal violation could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, charges will not be filed in this case.”
Joyce also wrote in the report that the Myers family attorneys never showed up for meetings, provided witnesses they claimed disputed the officer’s statements or the private autopsy.
